Now and then my wife and I find ourselves away from business and home, free for a few hours after morning meetings in the city.  On such afternoons we sometimes choose to drop in at the nearest movie house to check out the matinee offering of the hour. Attending movies in this fashion limits choice but I find the serendipitous experience of viewing “big screen” entertainment pleasing as we often attend a flick we might otherwise avoid. Recently we enjoyed a comedy in which the character God is played by the very talented actor Morgan Freeman. When God is first revealed in the screenplay he is seen mopping an expansive white floor. Through the combined work of actor, writer, cameraman, director and others, the movie viewer becomes aware that God is a worker, and later it becomes obvious, also, that the God of this tale prefers the humans under his care to be workers as well. This brings to mind an interview I gave recently in which the interviewer asked about Theosophy. The question, often asked, is almost always three fold. “What is the work? Who are the workers? How do they act?”

In 1888 THE SECRET DOCTRINE : THE SYNTHESIS OF SCIENCE, RELIGION, AND PHILOSOPHY (Theosophical Publishing Company 1888; reprint Theosophical University Press 1988) was published by H. P. Blavatsky and has become a very well known theosophical source work that many students of theosophy and scientific comparative religion turn to as a springboard in their studies. The book has, since it’s first issue,  never been out of print and it continues to sell well. It is extensive and quotes from many hundreds of sources - but it is important to note that the work is in no way considered by its author to be a “bible” in the sense of any final word or revelation. The SD is a tool. The writer and compilers of the SD make it obvious that No Book is capable of expressing the truth in any final way. As a result of her books and her selfless 19th century work, successive 20th authors also published theosophical books, mystery food for reflection, many becoming classic texts illuminating the divine wisdom of the ages. In the periodical THEOSOPHY IN IRELAND are found some extracts from the signed notes of  Royal Navy Commander Robert Bowen taken down in 1888 through 1891 from personal teachings received from H. P. Blavatsky to private pupils. These notes are today reprinted in several places. They can be found in AN INVITATION TO THE SECRET DOCTRINE by H. P. Blavatsky  (Theosophical University Press, 1994). My point to this paragraph is this - in Bowen’s notes we read the following -   “the true student of The Secret Doctrine” (or, theosophy if you will) “is a Jnana Yogi, and this Path of Yoga is the True Path for the western student”.   We also read in Bowen’s notes previous to this statement that

“ One must not be a fool (she said) and drive oneself into the madhouse by attempting too much at first. The brain is the instrument of waking consciousness, and every conscious mental picture formed means change and destruction of the atoms of the brain. Ordinary intellectual activity moves on well beaten paths in the brain, and does not compel sudden adjustments and destructions in its substance. But this new kind of mental effort calls for something very different - the carving out of new "brain paths," the ranking in different order of the little brain lives. If forced injudiciously it may do serious physical harm to the brain.

This mode of thinking (she says) is what the Indians call Jnana Yoga. As one progresses in Jnana Yoga one finds conceptions arising which though one is conscious of them, one cannot express nor yet formulate into any sort of mental picture. As time goes on these conceptions will form into mental pictures. This is a time to be on guard and refuse to be deluded with the idea that the new found and wonderful picture must represent reality. It does not. As one works on one finds the once admired picture growing dull and unsatisfying, and finally fading out or being thrown away. This is another danger point, because for the moment one is left in a void without any conception to support one, and one may be tempted to revive the cast-off picture for want of a better to cling to. The true student will, however, work on unconcerned, and presently further formless gleams come, which again in time give rise to a larger and more beautiful picture than the last. But the learner will now know that no picture will ever represent the Truth. (Bold added by KYR editors.) This last splendid picture will grow dull and fade like the others. And so the process goes on, until at last the mind and its pictures are transcended and the learner enters and dwells in the World of NO FORM, but of which all forms are narrowed reflections”.  

Ever since my first encounter some years back with the thought provoking words italicized above, the message continues to convey to this writer fresh ideas of great worth. The doors of perception are in our hands as individuals, never the hands of another. This is the work which theosophists and, indeed, all truth seekers must undertake.

So – who are these theosophists? In Blavatsky’s words: “.....once that a student abandons the old and trodden highway of routine, and enters upon the solitary path of independent thought - Godward - he is a Theosophist; an original thinker, a seeker after the eternal truth with ‘an inspiration of his own’ to solve the universal problems” (H. P. Blavatsky, - WHAT ARE THE THEOSOPHISTS, see Sunrise 4/5/1991 & Collected Writings V 2).

Finally, in what ways do the theosophists act?

They act in formal ways as centers, libraries, presses, internet databases, bookstores  and study groups. Some write for and publish magazines and books. Some lecture, carry on correspondence, provide interviews, organize discussions and presentations. Others translate the literature, transcribe book text to the internet, manage and work in those centers, presses and stores. But always there is a vast work going on, as in a movie production - behind the scenes. Any reporter or writer who writes an article or presents a broadcast touching on theosophical themes is, in fact, self enlisted in the effort. Any manager who paves the way to open doors for others to work through is a worker in the cause. Any person who speaks openly of universal brotherhood via various molds of structure is also self enlisted. To read and to be seen reading books and periodicals concerning so-called new thoughts is also potent activity. A display of thought provoking books in one’s personal home, to be viewed by visitors, is productive work.  Workers are plentiful and worldwide and not all of them call themselves theosophists.

Some student / workers are members of formal organizations which is of great help to those of us involved in the staging events. I would suppose that most student / workers promoting the ideas of brotherhood are not members of any formal theosophical group or clan, yet they work on. Some give of their time, energy and gifts without expectation. Through these actions there is personal growth and change. We simply TRY. We work on while trying to cultivate not looking for results or excitedly delivering announcements that we somehow grasp and possess a firm truth as opposed to a “thought of truth”, a “picture”, or an “idea”. In the words attributed to Krishna, we read “The work which is performed, ....because it is necessary, obligatory, and proper, with all self interest therein put aside and attachment to the action absent, is declared to be of the quality of truth and goodness......The true renouncer..... is averse neither to those works which fail nor those which succeed” (BHAGAVAD GITA - chapter 18). Who are the workers? Any and All who take action for Brotherhood, consciously or unconsciously.  

Buddhists remind us to be aware of the moment. Almost all religious teaching, old and new, respects the awareness and the benefits of “living in the now”.  One does not have to be a formal Theosophist, or carry any other title or label to attend to duty. Through duty, we change the world. In THE BHAGAVAD GITA (chapter 3) - again we read  “It is better to do one’s own duty ..... than to perform another’s duty well. It is better to perish in the performance of one’s own duty; the duty of another is full of danger”.   

We “Try” through our individual actions, united with others, not unlike the joint effort applied in movie making in which some operate the cameras, others write, act, edit and process special effects, the whole ordered and arranged by the producers and directors. The true theosophical worker, producer and director are found in the collective links of the dutiful chain of workers whether or not they actually know of each other’s efforts, actions, or thoughts. We act as one.

Here we might view the collective theosophical movement (a movement called by many names) within our world wide community and beyond is constant in its creation of a collective and united ever changing “picture” of truth for all of us as individuals. Our collective atman - buddhi - manas functions in unison when we strive to act selflessly. We are all brothers.     

No dogma should exist in our aspiration or our gatherings except by accident or a misperception by critics. And, concerning the opinion of critics, what does it matter when they, most of whom, like all of us, are living in the lower nature while engaged in overt criticism? It matters not. They too, like any other, are responsible for their own viewpoints. This does not mean that we should not respond to critics, but, we should do so carefully, and if we can muster up the strength, try not to take their sometimes harsh words personally. They are our brothers.

Most of us engaged in theosophical action work within an orderly framework exploring an understanding of truth. We work not to win converts, because there is simply nothing to convert another to. If conversion presents itself in any way, it is hopefully self conversion to a self delivered awareness of truth. Yet, it seems that there is always a great and plentiful plate of leftover dogma that needs constant composting, but, this is, once again, a personal matter. Theosophists that I know are constant composters. Nothing should ever be rushed, or forced in a philosophy of ever changing mind.

“Man rises as high as he is able to humble himself before Truth. Whether it be a scientist crucifying his personal theories before fact, or a saint releasing himself from his appetites for the sake of concentrating his mind on the Lord, each is abnegating his lower self before his spiritual vision.”  (Dhan Gopal Mukerji , from THE PATH OF PRAYER, 1934)

We work to bring a realized peace to the future.  Some call this peace an all inclusive “universal brotherhood”.  Anyone who delivers a good thought toward others is a worker. Anyone who accepts diversity within our wholeness is a worker. Anyone who can try to meet in discussion with others without prejudice and without domineering demands on  the thoughts of others is a worker.  Anyone who fails realizes, of course, that every being who treads this path of life will, by the very fact of his human nature, fail again and again alongside successes. This is self realization. This is ever changing mind. This is a true scientific method.